SR 6 Summary

• Authorizes Senator Williams to introduce a bill amending Arkansas Code § 7-7-105 regarding procedures for filling vacancies in U.S. House, Lieutenant Governor, and state legislature offices.

• Requires the Governor to notify state political party committees of vacancies and request them to choose between holding special primary elections or party conventions within 10 days.

• Establishes that special elections to fill vacancies must be held within 150 days of the vacancy, but allows the Governor to delay if deemed impracticable or unduly burdensome.

• Adds exception allowing the Governor to skip holding special elections for Lieutenant Governor vacancies occurring less than 10 months before the next general election if the office would be filled then anyway.

• Declares an emergency clause citing that statewide special elections cost over $1,000,000 and should be subject to Governor discretion, with the act applying retroactively to vacancies occurring on or after January 1, 2014.